Dungloe sealed their place in the Intermediate A Football Championship final with a well deserved win over Naomh Columba in O’Donnell Park.
Dungloe 2-12 Naomh Columba 0-12
Dungloe started strong as they won the throw-in and Ryan Connors scored a point with less than 30 seconds gone.
Ryan Gillespie levelled for Naomh Columba but Shaun McGee and Daniel Ward each scored as Dungloe went 2 points ahead. An Aaron Doherty free kick put Naomh Columba 1 point behind before Dáire Gallagher made it 0-04 to 0-02.
Michael McGuire scored from play as it was just the point separating the sides at the water break.
Dungloe could have made it comfortable for themselves going into the water break when Oisin Bonner played in Darren Curran but he sliced his shot just left of the post.
Naomh Columba grew into the game after the break as Christopher Byrne drew them level before two points from Doherty gave them the lead. Ryan Connors was yellow carded for Dungloe for a clothesline tackle on Lanty Molloy.
Dungloe were looking like heading into half-time without scoring a point in the second quarter but a late flurry of scores put them back in control. McGee got his second point of the game before Ward was played in by Bonner to level the game. In the last chance of the half, Dylan Sweeney scored a goal after a neat one-two with Bonner. Dungloe 1-06 Naomh Columba 0-06 at half time.
Dungloe started strong in the second half as Oisin Bonner scored before a massive score from Dáire Gallagher from way out.
Dungloe keeper Danny Rodgers gave his side a 6 point lead from a free but Naomh Columba weren’t giving up.
Finn Gallagher was on target before 3 brilliant free kicks from Doherty made it 1-09 to 0-10 at the water break.
Dungloe defended well at the restart to crowd out Lanty Molloy who was bearing down on goal and the pressure gave as Sweeney, a Rodgers free kick, and Bonner added points to give their side breathing space. Paul O’Hare got a point back for Naomh Columba but Bonner sealed the win.
Sweeney did brilliant out the right before cutting in and squaring the ball to Bonner who had an easy tap in. Doherty got his 7th point of the game and his second from play but it finished Dungloe 2-12 Naomh Columba 0-12.
Dungloe will face either Cloughaneely or Buncrana in the final.
Naomh Columba: Paddy Byrne; Phillip Doherty, Barry Carr, Liam Boyle; Pauric Ward, Eric Carr, Michael McGuire (0-1); Kevin McNern, Fionn Gallagher (0-1); Aaron Doherty (0-7,4f, 1’45), Ryan Gillespie (0-1), Ryan McNern; Paul O’Hare (0-1), Christopher Byrne, Lanty Molloy.
Subs: Phillip McNern for P Doherty (32 mins), David O’Donnell for L Boyle (35 mins), Pauric Heharty for Carr (40 mins), Ronan Gillespie for P Ward (42 mins), Declan McGuire for F Gallagher (60 mins).
Dungloe: Danny Rodgers (0-2,2f); Christy Greene, Mark Curran, Jason McBride; Barry Curran, Conor O’Donnell, Darren Curran; Noel McBride. Matthew Ward; Dylan Sweeney (1-1), Ryan Connors (0-1), Shaun McGee (0-2); Daire Gallagher (0-2), Oisin Bonner (1-3), Gerard Walsh.
Subs: Daniel Ward (0-1) for McBride (3 mins, inj), Jack Scally for D Ward (43 mins).
Referee: Connie Doherty (Naomh Conaill).
